Published in:
01-08-2021 | Infliximab | Original Communication
Clinical course of central nervous system demyelinating neurological adverse events associated with anti-TNF therapy
Authors:
Rosa Cortese, Luca Prosperini, Alessandro Stasolla, Shalom Haggiag, Veronica Villani, Isabella Laura Simone, Claudio Gasperini, Carla Tortorella
Published in:
Journal of Neurology
|
Issue 8/2021
Login to get access
Abstract
Previous studies have reported an association between anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα) treatment and central nervous system (CNS) events. We described eight patients presenting with demyelinating CNS events while on treatment with anti-TNFα for autoimmune diseases and followed up for a medium period of 4 years. Four patients presented with isolated demyelinating events, three patients fulfilled the criteria for multiple sclerosis (MS), and one patient showed worsening of pre-existing MS after anti-TNF therapy initiation. All patients except one, showed a good medium-term prognosis. Our observation supports an association between anti-TNFα treatment and demyelinating events and suggests that a prompt discontinuation of the drug may lead to a favorable demyelinating disease outcome.